During the latter years of the empire farming was done on large estates called latifundia that were owned by wealthy men who used slave labor.
A farmer who had to pay workmen could not produce goods as cheaply. Many farmers could not compete with these low prices and lost or sold their farms.
At one time, Rome had to feed more than 100,000 unemployed people there in Rome alone. These people were not only a burden but also had little to do but cause trouble and contribute to an ever increasing crime rate.
During a large economic crisis, many farmers demanded a bailout from the government.
When the government refused, they rebelled.
When one is Unemployed, he or she has no job or real flow of money from a company.
Letter
Dear Dr.Maxwell,
My name is Susan Hembroff, 7th grade student at nagel middle school in Cincinnati. As of now we are working on a class assignment in with we are discussing the downfall of ancient Rome and some solutions. My specific topic is unemployment. As of you are a pristine history professor at Ohio University, I would like to ask you to take a few seconds out of your day to answer a few questions.
1 In your opinion, what was really at the root of all the unemployment in Rome? 2 What did Rome do for the unemployment? 3 If most unemployed people joined the army, why did they struggle against the barbaric tribes?
Thank you very much for your time.
~Susan Hembroff
7th grader at Nagel Middle School Cincinnati
Response
Dear Susan, OK--I will try to answer your questions! The vast majority of people in the Roman Empire lived in the country and worked on farms. Their livelihood depended on the weather, how much produce they owed their landlords, and whether they were secure from invasions. Sometimes farmers also got hit hard by the Roman military--when they were passing through or stationed nearby, they would take provisions (food, clothes, etc.) from whoever they were around. So most people (farmers) were not unemployed, but their lives could still be very hard.
In the cities, many people worked as laborers or artisans. Throughout Roman history, leading men (like Julius Caesar and others) gained a lot of popularity by creating jobs in Rome--especially building projects (temples, theaters, etc.) funded by wealth gained from warfare. In the city of Rome, the emperors provided free bread and also free entertainment to keep the Romans happy and to share the wealth they were winning from all their conquests. So this bread distribution definitely helped people in the city of Rome who might have been unemployed or underemployed. Under emperors in the 100's AD/CE, there was also a program called the "Alimenta" (Latin for "food") that distributed food to poor children in Italy (not just in Rome).
Also, as you mentioned in your third question, military service was also a way for men to earn a living. The way the army worked changed over time (ancient Rome existed for more than 1,000 years!) but, generally, a man could sign up for 10-20 years of service and, if he survived, he would receive land from the government for his retirement. He could then raise kids, and leave this land to his kids. In this economy and society, owning your own land was a way to have economic independence and also to be respected/prestigious.
As far as the barbarians go, there was an ongoing conflict at the borders of the Roman Empire. After the time of Augustus, the Roman Empire slowed down its expansion, and they didn't try to conquer much of the area that today is Germany (there were no cities, or valuable real estate in those areas). Instead, the Romans defended the borders, which involved a lot of fighting with German tribes. Later, toward the end of the empire in Western Europe, (400's AD/CE), there were a lot of migrations of different groups that pushed more and more of these tribes into the Roman Empire. So that was a problem that wasn't directedly related to the issues of the economy.
I hope this was helpful!
Best wishes, JM
-- Dr. Jaclyn Maxwell Associate Professor of History and Classics/World Religions Ohio University
The current predicted unemployment rate in the United States.
Minimum wage is one of the more obvious job discouragers. Companies hire based on the value of the work to be done and not the person doing it. If it costs more to hire someone than the job is worth, the job will not exist. That is just reality. Interestingly, there has been a huge jump in unemployment every July for the last three years following an increase in the minimum wage. Ironically, those hit the hardest by minimum wage generated unemployment are the same ones who were suppose to benefit from such artificial increases — minorities and youth. Minimum wage is a serious job killer.
Taxes on corporations and businesses. The most frustrating aspect of these taxes is that they are a mere fixed cost of doing business. If the costs become too high, businesses move their companies — and the jobs they create — to other parts of the world. Eliminate this barrier to job creation, tax individuals directly through their purchases, and enjoy a more fiscally sound and accountable government.
Reform regulatory and licensure laws. These are both common barriers to job creation, particularly regulations. The Federal Register of Regulations is a source of nightmares for businesses of all sizes. Everyday business owners live in fear of violating the law, which puts pressures on them to have as few employees as humanly possible. The recent health care law of the Obama administration is a shining example of this. According to attorney Judith Sadler, a Price of Business Radio Show Contributor, among the perplex provisions in the legislation is a requirement that companies with fifty are more employees must have a designated room in their offices just for breastfeeding, regardless if there is a need for such. "Fifty employees" is often the threshold for many regulations. The vast majority of businesses (approximately 80 percent) have fewer than 50 employees; this is not only because of the virtues of small business, but the fear of being too successful in the eyes of the government.
Presentation
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1I0AOOxp9w-hHhty6a0-LLipSoiLtkol_iAdAD6LiK7g/edit
Ancient Roman Unemployment
http://www.rome.info/history/empire/fall/
Letter
Dear Dr.Maxwell,
My name is Susan Hembroff, 7th grade student at nagel middle school in Cincinnati. As of now we are working on a class assignment in with we are discussing the downfall of ancient Rome and some solutions. My specific topic is unemployment. As of you are a pristine history professor at Ohio University, I would like to ask you to take a few seconds out of your day to answer a few questions.
1 In your opinion, what was really at the root of all the unemployment in Rome?
2 What did Rome do for the unemployment?
3 If most unemployed people joined the army, why did they struggle against the barbaric tribes?
Thank you very much for your time.
~Susan Hembroff
7th grader at Nagel Middle School Cincinnati
Response
Dear Susan,
OK--I will try to answer your questions!
The vast majority of people in the Roman Empire lived in the country and worked on farms. Their livelihood depended on the weather, how much produce they owed their landlords, and whether they were secure from invasions. Sometimes farmers also got hit hard by the Roman military--when they were passing through or stationed nearby, they would take provisions (food, clothes, etc.) from whoever they were around. So most people (farmers) were not unemployed, but their lives could still be very hard.
In the cities, many people worked as laborers or artisans. Throughout Roman history, leading men (like Julius Caesar and others) gained a lot of popularity by creating jobs in Rome--especially building projects (temples, theaters, etc.) funded by wealth gained from warfare. In the city of Rome, the emperors provided free bread and also free entertainment to keep the Romans happy and to share the wealth they were winning from all their conquests. So this bread distribution definitely helped people in the city of Rome who might have been unemployed or underemployed. Under emperors in the 100's AD/CE, there was also a program called the "Alimenta" (Latin for "food") that distributed food to poor children in Italy (not just in Rome).
Also, as you mentioned in your third question, military service was also a way for men to earn a living. The way the army worked changed over time (ancient Rome existed for more than 1,000 years!) but, generally, a man could sign up for 10-20 years of service and, if he survived, he would receive land from the government for his retirement. He could then raise kids, and leave this land to his kids. In this economy and society, owning your own land was a way to have economic independence and also to be respected/prestigious.
As far as the barbarians go, there was an ongoing conflict at the borders of the Roman Empire. After the time of Augustus, the Roman Empire slowed down its expansion, and they didn't try to conquer much of the area that today is Germany (there were no cities, or valuable real estate in those areas). Instead, the Romans defended the borders, which involved a lot of fighting with German tribes. Later, toward the end of the empire in Western Europe, (400's AD/CE), there were a lot of migrations of different groups that pushed more and more of these tribes into the Roman Empire. So that was a problem that wasn't directedly related to the issues of the economy.
I hope this was helpful!
Best wishes,
JM
--
Dr. Jaclyn Maxwell
Associate Professor of History and Classics/World Religions
Ohio University
Unemployment in the US Now